Can’t update your iPhone 12 Pro to the latest iOS version? Here’s what to do when your device won’t update.
This article explains how you can fix the software update problem. More specifically, the focus of this article is on what you can do to when your iPhone 12 Pro won’t update to the latest version of iOS.
Some iPhone 12 Pro users, unfortunately, have been and continue to be affected by various iOS software update issues where they may experience a stalled iOS update. By stalled, we mean that iOS updates won’t download and install successfully.
Let’s look at some fixes that will help you get the latest software running on your iPhone 12 Pro properly. Here’s how to fix your iPhone 12 Pro when it won’t let you update iOS.
iPhone 12 Pro Won’t Update?
Please try the tips belove if you are unable to update your iPhone 12 Pro:
It is important that you back up your iPhone before you do anything.
Before you dive into advanced troubleshooting, it’s a good idea to check a few basics first. Don’t forget to run through these simple troubleshooting steps when your iPhone 12 Pro won’t update.
Solution #1: Charge Your iPhone
Your iPhone 12 Pro won’t let you upgrade if you don’t have enough battery power. This is to prevent your phone from turning off in the middle of an update, which can cause catastrophic damage to your device.
Make sure you plug in your iPhone and have plenty of charge before updating. It’s a good idea to leave it on the charger while the process runs, too.
See also: The fastest way to charge iPhone 12 Pro
Solution #2: Give It Some Time
When you try to update to the latest version of iOS as soon as it comes out, you might run into trouble. Apple’s servers go under heavy load when thousands of people are trying to update at once.
If you receive an error when trying to update to the latest version of iOS, try waiting for a while. You might have better luck later when the update servers aren’t under such a strain.
Solution #3: Force-Restart Your iPhone
A one-off bug can prevent you from updating your iPhone 12 Pro. Restarting your phone will refresh its processes and hopefully clear up any temporary glitches. To do this, Quickly press and release the volume up button. Quickly press and release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button.
Once you’ve done this successfully, you’ll see your screen turn black. Afterwards, an Apple logo will appear, and you’ll be greeted by your lock screen. Your device is now fully refreshed, so you can go ahead and try to update again.
Solution #4: Free Up Space
A lack of device storage a common culprit for a faulty update process. Luckily, modern versions of iOS help you free up space easily. Here’s how:
Launch the Settings app.
Go to General.
Go to iPhone Storage.
In this menu, you’ll see how much storage you have. Depending on what’s taking up space, your phone will provides a few recommendations, including:
Offload Unused Apps
Review Large Attachments
iCloud Photos
Auto-Delete Old Conversations
Offload Unused Apps deletes any apps that you rarely use. This won’t delete any of your personal data, though; only the app data itself will be deleted.
Review Large Attachments lets you see the largest photos and videos inside of Messages so you can delete them. This is often an easy way to gain a big chunk of storage, to give your iPhone a bit more room for the update.
iCloud Photos allows you to back up all your photos to iCloud. After doing this, you’re free to delete as many images as you want from your device. However, if you decide to do this, you’ll only be able to access your photos via an internet connection later on.
Auto-Delete Old Conversations has your phone clear out messages and attachments that were sent years ago in order to save space.
Once you’ve freed up some space, try the update again.
Solution #5: Force Update via iTunes
While most people are used to updating iOS right on their device nowadays, you can still run the update through your computer.
On Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier, you can update your iPhone 12 Pro through iTunes by following these steps:
On Windows, download iTunes for Windows if you don’t have it already.
Connect your iPhone 12 Pro to your computer with its charging cable.
Start the iTunes app.
Sync your iOS device.
Click Check for update.
Click Download.
Once the download is finished, select Update.
Since Apple retired iTunes in macOS Catalina, you’ll need to do this through Finder instead. Connect your iPhone 12 Pro to your Mac, launch Finder, and click the device name on the left sidebar. This will bring you to a panel similar to the old iTunes interface, where you can follow the steps above.
After doing this, the update will install onto your device.
Solution #6: Reset Your Network Settings
If you can’t update your iPhone 12 Pro through iTunes either, the next step is to take a look at your Wi-Fi connection. A slow Wi-Fi connection means you may not be able to update your iPhone 12 Pro.
Make sure you’re connected to a strong Wi-Fi network when you try to update. If your Wi-Fi is slow, it’s worth restarting your router. You might also try connecting to another network and seeing if you have the same issue there.
If you can’t update on any Wi-Fi network, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings to start fresh. Note that this will clear out all network preferences you’ve saved, so you’ll need to reconnect to all previously saved Wi-Fi networks again. This will also reset any VPN configurations you use.
To reset network settings on your iPhone 12 Pro:
Start the Settings app.
Go to General.
Scroll down and tap Reset.
Tap Reset network settings.
Type in your passcode and confirm you want to do this.
See also: Top iPhone 12 Pro Tips and Tricks for Beginners
Solution #7: Factory Reset Your iPhone
If you can’t update your iPhone 12 Pro after trying the above steps, you should consider completely wiping your device. In the Reset menu mentioned above, you can either reset all settings on your device, or perform a factory reset to erase everything.
Resetting your settings probably won’t fix an update issue, but it’s worth a try if nothing else has worked:
Start the Settings app.
Tap General.
Select Reset.
Tap Reset all settings.
Enter your passcode to confirm.
All your settings are now reset. Try to update again. If it works, you’ll need to put all your settings (including app preferences, display options, and similar) back as they were.
Failing that, you can go the more extreme route and reset your iPhone to factory defaults. Keep in mind this will erase all the data on your iPhone 12 Pro. Make sure you’ve backed up your iPhone before proceeding so you don’t lose any information.
Here’s how to factory reset your iPhone:
Start the Settings app.
Go to General.
Scroll down and tap Reset.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode to confirm.
Your iPhone will now revert back to its factory state. Because everything is fresh again you’ll hopefully be able to update without issue. You can restore your iPhone backup when you set up your phone after the reset.
iPhone 12 Pro not Updating: Fixed!
It’s frustrating when your iPhone 12 Pro won’t let you update. Hopefully, one of these fixes solved your problem and you can now enjoy the latest version of iOS.
Speaking of which, after you’re finished updating, check out the 5 iPhone 12 Pro tips and tricks everyone should know.